I have some extra time this week, so I've decided to give you a new chapter each day (M-F), but don't get use to it. I will typically only have time to update 3 chapters per week because I am working to make sure the chapters are good quality and not too short. Enjoy!
RIEKA I was so excited when Drea invited me over for dinner! I feel like I’ve finally found an extroverted friend who doesn’t make me feel like a burden. When she explained that the dinner would be at Aleksandr’s home I was intrigued. I thought over time I would think about him less and just get use to the way I feel in his presence, but the frequency of how much I think about him has actually increased and my feelings towards him continue to grow. Sometimes he’s so sweet and attentive that I almost think he is interested in me, but then I immediately scold myself for thinking such a ridiculous thing. He is so professional and kind that I think I must be reading too much into things. It’s not like I could do anything about it anyway. Every time I think of him in a non-professional way I'm plagued with guilt. It hasn’t even been a year since my husband’s death. If I really loved my husband, I would not be entertaining these ridiculous thoughts about another man so soon after.
ALEKSANDR I knew if I was going to pretend to be knowledgable about electrical work, I needed some help and fast. The very next day I mind-linked Chad and asked him to come see me at the pack house. He does most of the electrical work around the pack and if anyone can teach me how to help Rieka, it’s him. He wasn’t too busy, so he got to the pack house within the hour. I greet him at the door and welcome him in. “Thanks for coming over Chad. I was hoping you could teach me a bit about electrical work. I wanted to learn as sort of a hobby.” It was a half truth. Chad has a look of utter confusion on his face. “Uh… sure?” His voice goes up at the end in question. He's obviously really thrown off by my request. He probably never expected his Alpha to ask for a lesson on electrical wiring. “When… when would you like to start?” he stammers. “Well,” I continue, “I was hoping maybe today. I want to see how much I can learn in a week. For things like fixes around a house. You k
RIEKA I didn’t hear anything from Aleksandr the next day, and I was a bit relieved. I refused to dwell on the negative things that had been stressing me out, so I spent the day getting some work done and then hanging out with my kids. The kids loved all the treats I brought home from Drea, and they actually requested to come with me next time. Although, I’m not sure if there will be a next time. As much as I love hanging out with Drea, I feel awkward about how I ran away from Aleksandr’s house, and now I feel the need to avoid him and his house. I just need to be careful that I don’t damage our professional relationship. As luck would have it, a few days after the disastrous dinner, I spoke with the farmer who owns the largest section of the land that Aleksandr wants to purchase. He has agreed to sell the land, but before I tell Aleksandr the good news or write up any paperwork for the deal, I want to follow up with the other families. I send off some emails to each owner aski
RIEKA Drea starts bouncing in place as she tries to contain her excitement. I try my best to give her a smile and pretend to be excited, but she must sense my apprehension. Her smile faulters for a second before she recovers and then her smile grows even bigger, showing off those gorgeous perfectly white, perfectly straight teeth of hers. For the first time since I met her, I can almost see how her teeth could look menacing. I know that sounds crazy, she’s not a rabid dog, but there is something about her teeth that suddenly strikes me as a potential threat. Before I have any more time to think about this new revelation about my friend, she takes my hands in both of hers. Her eyes are beaming with excitement and anticipation. I give her my best smile, “What is it?” Then suddenly she squeals “I’m pregnant!” I don’t know what I thought she was going to tell me, but that wasn’t it! My face quickly transforms from nervous, to shocked, and then quickly morphs into excitement! I c
RIEKA My talk with Drea at the furniture store really helped me to feel less embarrassed about dinner, but there isn’t much anyone can do about my insecurities. I’m meeting with Aleksandr for lunch before meeting with one of the property owners, and for some reason I feel especially uncomfortable in my body today. I walk into the restaurant that he asked me to meet him at, and it’s the cutest little Italian place, although pasta isn’t great for my waistline. Running my hands across my stomach to smooth my shirt, and then pulling on the edges of my jacket to cover my stomach as much as I can, I wonder if I can get away with just ordering a salad. I’m actually pretty hungry, but I’m so sick of feeling overweight and gross, and today I’m extra sensitive about it. The hostess walks up and offers to show me to the table. I’ve decided that I’m not going to let myself feel awkward. He doesn’t know what I’m thinking, and while I can’t fully control the way I respond to his presence, I
ALEKSANDR Lunch was going great, but her scent hadn’t changed and was still faint. I had an idea. Up until this point I have been very careful not to be too forward or openly flirtatious because I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but I wanted to know how she would respond to me if I was more obvious with my attraction to her. As we chatted and I flirted more openly, I thought her scent was growing stronger, but it was very gradual and not extremely obvious. When I started asking about her children and showing that I paid attention and remembered details about them I noticed a more significant increase in her scent. Near the end of the meal, I noticed that her scent had definitely grown stronger, but still nowhere near what a mate’s scent should be. Suddenly, out of nowhere, her face started looking somewhat disheartened. What could she possibly be thinking about right now to make her look so downcast? When I question her about it, she gives me a line about work. I know
ALEKSANDR The lunch meeting/date was a HUGE success! I was getting in my car, about to call Dustin and Drea to update them, when I began to feel like something was wrong. My wolf was pacing in my mind and unhappy about the idea of Rieka leaving without us. I tried to reassure him that we would see her again soon, but he would not settle down. The more agitated he became, the more worried I was about Rieka. Call it my wolf’s intuition, but I just knew that I needed to get to her. Rieka had emailed me the address of the property where she was going. She’s smart, she always lets several people know where she is going to be so that if she is late or doesn’t show up somewhere we all know where to look for her. She doesn’t tell me about all of her appointments, but because this one involves me, she included me in her list of safety contacts. I open my email on my phone and pull up the address. I’m about to start driving that direction when my phone rings. I look at the caller ID a
RIEKA The next morning, I get up and go through the motions of our usual routine, but my mind is consumed with thoughts of Aleksandr. He’ll be here at nine o’clock, and even though I cleaned last night before bed I still keep thinking of things I should try to get done before he comes over. After dropping the older kids off at school, Calvin and I head back home. I put on a little mascara and then decide to put on my playlist again while I try to get a few last-minute things done. I have about 30 minutes before Aleksandr is supposed to get here. I’m in the zone and getting a lot of cleaning done. This is probably the most productive I’ve been with cleaning in weeks! I lose track of time and suddenly I hear the doorbell ringing. Looking down at myself I realize I look a little homely in my black leggings and t-shirt with a sheen of sweat on my brow, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. I don’t want to make him wait at the door for 20 minutes while I try to fix myself u